Blog: Feature Stories

RunCharlotte x Recover to Partner for Sustainable Event Gear and More 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

February, 27 2024 

Charlotte —  RunCharlotte and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon announce a multi-year agreement with North Carolina-based Recover Brands to provide event tees, official merchandise, and more – with less of an environmental impact.  

RunCharlotte owns and produces six of Charlotte’s most well-known running events, including the Yiasou Greek Festival 5k, Hit the Brixx, and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. Recover is the leader in the development of 100% recycled AND 100% recyclable apparel and gear with low waste, and positive impact on the environment. This new partnership allows both brands to act on a shared mission to make a positive impact on the community.  

“To provide our runners with the best possible experience, lessen our environmental impact, and work with a local company to do it… that’s a win-win-win,” said Tim Rhodes, RunCharlotte President and Managing Partner of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. “This partnership with Recover speaks directly to our goal of creating opportunities to build an active, engaged, and healthier community — and connecting with partners who share the same vision.”

Runners can expect to see the first of the Recover product as the event tees for the March 16 Novant Health Lucky Day 7k. https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Charlotte/LuckyDay7K 

“Recover is thrilled to be the Official Apparel Partner of RunCharlotte and their entire family of events starting in 2024. This partnership highlights their commitment to sustainability by choosing an apparel partner like Recover that is focused on making high-quality, low-impact products through our HyperLocal™ supply chains.” said Bill Johnston, Founder & President at Recover. “We’re excited to offer runners, volunteers, and staff an assortment sustainable apparel, headwear and accessories, that are both made from recycled materials and fully recyclable through the Recover Closed Loop Program”

Along with event tees for each RunCharlotte series event, Recover will produce a line of exclusive, official Novant Health Charlotte Marathon apparel, which will be available online and at the 2024 Marathon Expo. RunCharlotte and Recover will also partner on other sustainability-focused community engagement projects and initiatives throughout the year. 

About RunCharlotte and the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon: 

RunCharlotte is Charlotte’s home for the resources, inspiration, and experiences to guide runners of all paces. Since 2005, the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon has capped the local road racing season. The event, its participants, and partners have contributed nearly $500,000 to support programs at Novant Health’s Hemby Children’s Hospital. November 16, 2024 marks the 20^th anniversary running of The Novant Health Registration is open for all events at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Charlotte/CharlotteMarathon 

About Recover Brands:
Recover is on a mission to help the earth recover by outfitting everyone with apparel and gear for the biggest positive impact possible. As a pioneer in recycled textiles, and THE RESPONSIBLE COMPANY FOR EVERYONE, Recover has specialized in manufacturing apparel and gear out of certified 100% recycled materials since the company’s founding in 2010. Through its vertical manufacturing and HyperLocal™ supply chains, Recover utilizes a unique process of repurposing recycled cotton and recycled plastic into high-quality, low-impact apparel and gear.  This process conserves over 10 times the amount of water and energy as conventional apparel and significantly reduces carbon emissions.  And all Recover apparel is fully recyclable through its 360° Closed Loop program.  Connect with Recover on Instagram, Strava, YouTube, Facebook, and online at RecoverBrands.com. #BeTheImpact

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Media contacts: 

• DC Lucchesi – dc@well-runmedia.com 704-577-8459 
• Adam Bratton – adam@recoverbrands.com

Running Terms You Need to Know 

Running—like any other exploit, activity, or sport – has its own lexicon. While none of it is particularly obscure, some of the running vocabulary we use on the daily can leave folks new to the game feeling like they’re on the outside looking in. And with some surveys suggesting nearly 30% of today’s runners have just come to the sport since the pandemic… that’s a whole lot of runners who’ve never talked the talk. Let’s fix that. 

Here are some common running terms and a few extras you’ll hear at the group runs, races, and on the social media accounts you’re following. 

Bib: You’ll get one of these at most every race or more formal running event you sign up for. It’s got your participant number on it and, more than likely, your timing chip is attached. (More on that in a minute) It’s to be worn on the front of your shirt, visible to race officials, photographers, and volunteers.

Chip: This is essentially a tiny transponder attached to your race bib that is “read” by computer as you cross over the start line, the finish line, and other checkpoints along the event route. “Chip time” is the total time it took you to cross the start line and reach the finish. This differs from “gun time;” which is elapsed time between the official event start and your finish time.

Conversational Pace: Quite literally, a pace that you can hold and also sustain a conversation. While far from scientific, it’s safe to say that if you’re running comfortably enough to engage in conversation, you’re not overdoing it. 

Dreadmill: A not-so-loving reference to a run or workout completed on a treadmill. Hey, we get it. The treadmill is not for everybody. 

Negative Split: Running the second half of a race or training run faster than the first half. This strategy is often used to conserve energy early on and finish strong.

Plogging: A casual run punctuated with bouts of picking up litter along the running route or path. The term merges the word “jogging” with the Swedish phrase “plocka upp,” which means, “pick up.” It’s easy to do, and requires nothing more than a trash bag. Some disposable gloves are a nice touch, too. 

Run Clubs: Generally, a casual weekly run at a set time and location. Often starting at coffee shops and breweries, these laid-back runs provide community and an opportunity to socialize. Distances range from 1 to 5 miles, and are approachable for most any pace. 

Runner’s High: The much-talked of euphoric feeling often experienced during or after a run, characterized by a release of endorphins that produces a sense of well-being and reduced pain perception. You’ll know it when you feel it. 

Streak: Running on consecutive days, for a set distance, without fail. The generally accepted minimum distance is at least one mile on either the roads, and can be completed on the road, track, trails, or on a treadmill. Your run streak can be for weeks, months, years, or as long as you can keep it up.

Taper: The period of reduced training volume and intensity leading up to a race. This down period allows the body to recover and store energy for peak performance.

Did we miss a term that should be added to this starter list? Is there a running word or term you’d like to know more about it? Drop a note to ed@runcharlotte.com

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The only constant certain as change is the fact that not everyone will be happy about it. And changes at parkrun experienced the same fate when it was announced that the free, volunteer-led runs would no longer publish certain data on its website. Not a decision made on the local level, mind you, but one from the organizers that oversee the now 20-year old program.

A lot has changed in those 20 years, too. Since 2004 we’ve witnessed the era of social media and smartphones; lived through a global financial crisis, Brexit, and a pandemic; and seen the Cubs and Red Sox BOTH broke generations-long World Series droughts. As runners, we’ve seen the top men’s marathon times drop by 4-plus minutes. Training, research and technology have allowed even us regular runners to live better, healthier, and sometimes even fast running lives. In 2024, even the most basic running watch can now precisely track data we could only guesstimate 20 years ago. 

Along with all of that, parkrun has grown from a modest 13 persons at its first-ever London-area run, to a weekly opportunity for runners to find community in the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and the US. That includes an every Saturday parkrun along Charlotte’s Little Sugar Creek Greenway, where you’ll likely find dozens of runners and volunteers regardless of the weather. 

We spoke with then-organizers Mitch Mitchell and Sarah Kline about parkrun about a year ago on The Running Around Charlotte Podcast. There’s been a change here, too, Mitchell tells us. Sarah’s moved from Charlotte, and Jess Bilbrey has joined Mitchell as co-organizer. Mitchell also says he doesn’t expect the global changes to impact participation locally. 

“It’s important to stress that there have been no changes in participants’ personal data, both historic and going forward,” Mitchell shared via email. “You still get the same email that says what your time was, tells you how many parkruns you’ve completed overall, how many times at that particular event, what place you finished, what your personal best time is, some information about your age grade.” 

The main elements now missing are a footer from the webpage that showed the fastest times by age and gender. The global decision to remove that data is the root of the controversy; a move organizers say was meant to be more inclusive and de-emphasize competition. 

Locally, Mitchell says, participants at Little Sugar Creek Greenway parkrun don’t seem too invested in the pages that were removed, 

“People come to parkrun to socialize, be outdoors, and have fun with the timing in their own way regardless of where they finish in the field.” 

The Little Sugar Creek Greenway parkrun is every Saturday morning at 9am. The run starts and finishes at the greenway entrance along Sharon Road West, and is an out-and-back course. There’s a pre-run briefing, and post-run coffee at an area coffee shop. All paces are welcome, and a volunteer walks the course behind the last participant. 

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Tales from the Trials 

Running – and particularly women’s running – had a moment in the sun this past weekend during the US Olympic Team Trials. Quite literally, in fact. Downtown Orlando played a perfect host to the best marathoners in the country, scores of sign-toting, enthusiastic fans, and the kind of weather that keeps the convention and visitors bureau in the black. 

As you’ve read by now, this year’s women’s Trials featured an impressive field of talented contenders, as well as the most diverse women’s group to date; with nearly 13% of qualifiers being women of color. All very good things for the future of women’s running and the sport on the whole. 

But on the afternoon before this history-making field would toe the starting line, was a sparsely-attended event recognizing the 40^th anniversary of the first-ever Women’s US Olympic Team Trials. Tucked between the elite athletes’ pre-event news conference and a mandatory meeting for event photographers; Betsy Hughes, Deena Kastor, and Joan Benoit Samuelson took the stage. 

Hughes is the co-owner of Orlando’s Track Shack, and a co-conspirator in bringing the Trials to Florida. Kastor, is an Olympic bronze medalist, and former US record holder. Benoit Samuelson won the first US Women’s Marathon Trials on her way to eventually earning the gold medal at the 1984 Games; another first for US women’s marathoning. 

The trio spoke to the significance of the occasion, the scope of the current competition, and the sacrifices, risks, and challenges women took to make it this far. 

“Sometimes, an injury is just a blessing in disguise,” Benoit Samuelson coolly punctuated the conversation about her then gusty decision to undergo knee surgery just 17 days before those first Trials. 

“Watching her may have been the reason I took up running,” added Kastor, who was just 11 years old watching those first Trials, “but either way, it would have inspired me to see that I could do anything.”

Being up close and personal with the real-life embodiment of that inspiration and representation is what brought many spectators to the fence line last weekend; including Joanna Moore and her three daughters and a friend from Tampa to see the Trials. 

“It’s super important to show role models to my girls,” Moore told us, “and maybe have them aspire to not just be runners one day, but to be strong women.” 

Jessica Dinatele was a runner in high school. She brought her whole family to see the start of the Trials.  

“It’s really important for them to see that any dream is out there for them,” said Dinatele, “whether they want to run, or do another sport, or whatever. It’s important for my girls to see other girls working so hard.”

“Being here is just as important for us as it is for the racers,” added Allison Tripp, who came to the Trials with her son. “Any representation is astronomical, and we’re here to support just like they’re here to perform.” 

Most of these families, fans, and runners won’t go to Paris. But odds are good this Olympic experience will change them and the face of running for years to come.

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Marathon Approaches Half Million Dollar Mark in Donations to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital 

Event organizers, partners, and friends presented Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital with a check for $138,552.68 – the largest yet — pushing total donations toward the half million dollar mark. 

“When we say we want to provide ‘community impact’ through this event, we mean a whole lot more than just a great weekend of running,” said Tim Rhodes, RunCharlotte President and Managing Partner of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon. “The impact on the local economy is real, and so is the opportunity for us to create change through fundraising and direct donations to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital.”

Along with direct donations from participants, partners, and the event, runnerselected to fundraise through “Team Hemby” as they trained. E2M Fitness signed-on as a partner supporting a new “Meaningful Miles” program, highlighting the journey of Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital patients. 

As the event’s title sponsor, Novant Health has provided remarkable on-site event medical care for 18 years. 

“We are so grateful to the runners of the Charlotte Marathon who made their miles even more meaningful this year,” said Dr. Catherine Ohmstede, Novant Health Children’s Institute physician leader for the Greater Charlotte market. “No family wants to experience a hospital stay with their child, but for those who do, the money raised through the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon will have a direct and positive impact. These funds allow us to make Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital an even more comfortable setting for these brave children to receive remarkable care.”

Nearly 7,300 athletes took on the 19^th iteration of the Novant Health Charlotte Marathon, half marathon, relay, rucking, and Chick-fil-A 5k; with 45 states and 13 countries represented across all events.

“This really sets the stage for 2024 and beyond,” added Rhodes. “This check represents the kind of impact we hope to continue to have on the community.” 

November 16, 2024 marks the 20^th anniversary running of The Novant Health Registration is open for all events at: https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/Charlotte/CharlotteMarathon 

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